AN APOSTOLIC BLESSING FOR THE NEW YEAR

Beloved in Christ, 

As we stand at the threshold of AD 2025, I extend my heartfelt prayers and blessings to you, the faithful of our beloved Church, our sister churches in the World Federation of Orthodox and Apostolic Churches, and all our clergy, people, friends, and family. May this New Year be crowned with God’s greatest benefits and blessings: health, happiness, prosperity, justice, truth, life, and beauty. 

Let us recall the words of the Apostle Paul: “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3). And may the prayer of St. Basil the Great resonate within us: “O God, the Author of all good, Who hast placed times and seasons under Thy wise governance, bless this year with Thy grace, and make it fruitful with works of righteousness.”

We look to Scripture for our blessing: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). 

And we echo the prayer of the Psalmist: “Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness; and Thy paths drop fatness” (Psalm 65:11). 

In this coming year, may we, as a Church, renew our dedication to justice and truth, inspired by the Fathers who remind us that “the glory of God is man fully alive” (St. Irenaeus of Lyons). Let us seek the life-giving Spirit, who alone can guide us into all truth and empower us to embody Christ's love in a broken world. 

To our clergy, I exhort you to shepherd the flock with faithfulness, always imitating the Good Shepherd. To the laity, I encourage you to live the Gospel in every aspect of your lives, drawing others to Christ by your example of holiness and joy. To all our brothers and sisters, near and far, may this year be one of goodness and growth, bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God. 

As we journey together through AD 2025, let us be steadfast in our vision: to live as children of light, filled with the Holy Spirit, who renews and sustains us. May we strive for the beauty of holiness, the unity of faith, and the fullness of life in Christ. 

By the prayers of the Holy Apostles and all the Saints, may this year be a foretaste of the eternal Kingdom, where justice, truth, and peace reign forever. 

With paternal love and every blessing, 

+ Joseph

Ancient Church of the West